We had a week of dreary weather in Austin---colder temperatures and days that were overshadowed by an ever present gray.

My parents drove all the way from Colorado to bask in some of Texas' mid-winter warmth only to trade in their snow boats for rain boots and their ski coats for thick wool sweaters.

Thankfully, my parents know how to make the best of both good and bad weather, so we had a delightful week of food, laughter, and shopping despite the cold wind and rain. My mom has been known to spoil me, so of course, I took her to the place I most enjoy spoiling--Whole Foods.

As we walked through the flagship store, she generously filled our basket with salted pistachios, Greek yogurt, bottles of wine Pink Lady apples, rinds of brie, rosemary ciabatta, and a case of Lara bars. I left Whole Foods with three large bags of food, and my mom wanted me to go back in for more.

All of these foodie gifts were a joy to receive, and they look beautiful in my refrigerator and pantry shelves. But what I treasure far more than nuts or organic produce was the precious time I was able to spend with my parents--the very beginning of my existence.

We sat together in our apartment, we sipped on glasses of Perrier and white wine, we poached shrimp, we baked pies, and we laughed. We laughed a lot. My parents brought their dog, and he enjoyed running around and only slightly dirtying my recently mopped floors. My parents treat him like a child, which I guess makes sense...they've been raising girls for over 40 years now! My younger sister only just turned 19.

I actually made this bread pudding a few days before my parents arrived, but I still think it is a perfect recipe to share with the ones that love you the most.

Bread pudding is an unassuming dish.

I don't many people who would call it the prettiest dessert on the block. But one bite of this sweet and comforting casserole will have you sold. You'll want to curl up with a blanket, call your dog up on your lap, and laugh with your parents about all those years that have somehow flown by.

I added bananas and cinnamon to this simple recipe, and we served it with freshly whipped cream and a sprinkle of butterscotch chips. I tore apart a loaf of leftover honey wheat bread, and its sweet and hearty presence was felt in every bite. Feel free to use any variety of bread, but remember...the better your bread is, the better your bread pudding will taste.

My parents returned safely to Colorado yesterday morning, and I already miss being able to reach out and touch the hands that once held me in their arms. Even though we live hundreds of miles away, I'm grateful that we can remain close through the sharing of words, the sharing of foods, and the sharing of memories.

I hope that you enjoy this bread pudding as much as I did. Ryan and I couldn't stop eating it...

2. Break your bread into one inch pieces. Toss pieces with melted butter and pour into your prepared baking pan. Place sliced bananas on top of your bread pieces, and use your hands to distribute throughout your bread.

3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Beat until well incorporated. Carefully pour over your bread mixture, and lightly push down with a fork until bread is covered.

4. Bake in your preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly touched. Serve warm with freshly whipped cream or a scoop of icecream!

Oh Monet, this looks incredible - So warm, cozy and inviting. What a wonderful thing that you got to spend time with your parents. Moments like that - and bread puddings like these - should be cherished!

My parents like to take me grocery shopping when given the chance, too (they did it much more when I was in college and also not in a different state!). I think it's a way they make themselves still feel needed and depended on. Which they clearly still are- just in different ways!

Aren't visits with parents the best? It's so funny that your mom takes to you to Whole Foods to be "spoiled," because that's exactly where Adam and I want to go to treat ourselves, as well (it's a 90 mile drive from our house!). I love how food-bloggers prefer spending hours in a nice grocery store than in a nice shopping mall :)

It sounds like a wonderful visit. I really like your recipe for bread pudding. Your use of banana makes it truly unique and I can almost taste those flavors playing on my tongue. I hope you have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

I'm so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful time visiting with your parents, Monet! It must have been like a breath of fresh air on a spring day. The banana bread pudding sounds wonderful...isn't it amazing how a few simple ingredients can come together so magically into something so fantastic? Hope you have a lovely day! :)

Your parents are so lucky! And you are so lucky! And Whole Foods is not only my favorite grocery store, but is also my favorite restaurant, as well as the place I go when I need to vent stress! LOL! And I love the idea of a banana bread pudding!!! Happy Wednesday!

Hi Monet! What a lovely photo of you with your mom and dad and their pooch! Too cute! The bread pudding is divine--as usual your baking skills are amazing! This dish would be perfect for our snow we're getting ready to have! Thanks for sharing!

I adore bread pudding, but have never tried one with bananas...sounds so comforting and delicious! So happy you had a nice visit with your parents...my mom always loved to grocery shop with me when she was in town and we seemed to work in an excuse to hit Williams-Sonoma, too! xoxo

Monet, I love that you value the things in life that are of real importance...time with your parents is such a treasure. My parents are no longer on this earth, however I carry them in my heart and the one thing I will never regret is the time I spent with them. By the way, your parents are a beautiful couple ~ I can see each of them in you! Your banana bread pudding looks perfect for the cold temps you are having...sounds like you are describing my midwest weather :) I'll have to try this comforting recipe soon!

Bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts and comfort foods. It really does make you want to curl up in a blanket and enjoy. This sounds delightful and looks lovely. I would love to come in to a warm plate of this after shoveling.

I can't get enough of these sweet stories about you and your family. Too funny that you said "My mom has been known to spoil me, so of course, I took her to the place I most enjoy spoiling--Whole Foods". You often hear people saying, "Mother knows best", well sometimes daughter knows best too ;-). Look at those beautiful, bright smiles. Now that's what love looks like.

Banana Bread Pudding is one of my favorite desserts. It may not be pretty, but we all know it is what is on the inside that counts, and bread pudding has "it". Whole Foods is definitely a great place to be spoiled.

I have never had bread pudding or made it. Until I read your wonderful description of it I had no idea what I was missing. I adore that picture of you holding your parents' hands. I hope my kids hold my hand when they are adults. That is love!

Monet, I always enjoy reading your posts in which you give us snippets of your wonderful interaction with your family members. It's no wonder you turned out to be such a lovely person. You grew up basking in the warmth of a loving family. By the way, the banana bread pudding looks delicious.

Ooooooo! I havnt had bread pudding in ages, and none as wonderful as this looks! The honey wheat bread is perfect idea! Sooooo making this!Sorry your parents had bad weather, go figure. Glad u got to hang out tho and score on your shopping trip. ;)

I love the bond that you and your family share! You are such a beautiful family... and I don't know what you mean about this bread pudding not being pretty... because it's absolutely gorgeous! And you can tell it was just made with love!

I love reading your blog because of the love that is always so evident, including this piece about your parents. Bread pudding always reminds me of my own mom, this was one of the few baked goods she ever made when I was growing up and it was always spectacular. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful piece of your life.

It must have been wonderful to have your parents for a visit...sorry they missed out on warm day, you could have all popped over to California...we had a heat wave!Your banana bread pudding looks so delicious :)

This looks fantastic! I've never made a bread pudding before, but always hear fantastic things about it. I'm glad you had such a great time with your parents. Now that I'm grown-up and out on my own, I love grocery shopping with my mom :)

Your parents are so sweet to come to visit you in such a snowy and cold weather. The trip to Whole Foods, must have been so much fun, and such goodies to bring home!Love your banana bread pudding. So yummy and comforting. Great recipe.Thank you for sharing, it's such a pleasure to read about your sweet stories of your daily life, and precious memories from your childhood!

My husband loved banana desserts, and he absolutely would have flipped over this one! What a unique touch the butterscotch chips make with the whipped cream! I'll have to make it in his honor! I know you really enjoyed your parents visit. What a good looking family!

Looks like you've had some yummy baking going on over here, lemon muffins and now this bread pudding. My husband is a huge bread pudding fan and he love bananas, I will have to make this for him. How nice you and your parents got to visit and go shopping. I'm hoping the rest of your week goes this good.-Gina-

As you know I was in Florida last weekend and had zero interest in returning home. When I did, I got back into blog reading and read this post and it really made me feel better -- your words have a way, always. This pudding looks wonderful and I often find that the best dishes are not the prettiest. They have their own charm.

Awww, I loved hearing your story about your family. Reminds me of mine and how much I relish the time spent with them when we are able to be together (I live in MI, they live in CA). I also have a younger sister and love her to itty bitty pieces.

Aww, what a good time! I think Whole Foods would've been my choice with the spoiling as well. Sounds like a great time with your parents! Our visit with Greg's parents was wonderful too and we are missing their presence these days. Greg will be so happy you posted this, even more than I am, because he loves banana anything and butterscotch. Yummy bread pudding!

How sweet that your parents came to visit! My mama used to do the same thing for me when I lived in Florida. She would take me to the grocery store (Fresh Market, Whole Foods wasn't open yet) and buy me lots of delicious food! The banana bread pudding looks absolutely delicious. This is one of my dad's favorite desserts. I'll definitely have to make this for him.

Thank you so much for your kind words. You are so incredibly sweet and I feel so blessed to know you! :)

Banana bread pudding is so wonderful, it combines the best of both dishes! I always love hearing about your family, it sounds like you have a wonderfully close and loving family:) By the way...your parents are both gorgeous! I can see where you get it from:)

I can't believe I've never made bread pudding. It's one of those desserts we always enjoy while we're out... so it has never occurred to me to make at home! Definitely on the to-do list. And how nice it was of your parents to come visit!!!! Cute dog, too. Bet they love seeing their kids as much as you love seeing them.

I love that your mom took you on a shopping spree in Whole Foods. Selling chocolate in big hunks is genius to me!Plus all the different types of cheese make me swoon! I'm spending Sunday with my parents and I can't wait! Granted they only live 20 minutes away but I still love to see them!

I so wish that my puppy would travel as well as your parents little pup did...how adorable even with tiny dirty paws ;o)Having parents like yours must be wonderful Monet...they certainly understood their role in life...and that's to love you unconditionally.

Oh, Monet, this looks yummy :-) I didn't like bread pudding much until I had this bread pudding with RUM sauce at a restaurant a couple of years ago: Spaghettini Grill and Lounge! I'm glad you had a good time with your parents; I always love spending time with mine. A spree at Whole Foods! How fun! I hope school's going well for you so far!

I'm happy for you and having such a lovely week with your parents! I recently discovered the wonders of bread pudding, so unassuming and so scrumptious! I love the flavors you used in yours. Hope you have a great weekend!

You're totally right - bread pudding is probably the ugliest desert you could put on the table. But, one bite, and you are dreaming about it for weeks. Thank you for sharing this recipe - the banana bread is an amazing touch that I'll just have to try next time I have some old bananas laying around :)

monet I have never had bread pudding, it looks so comforting and inviting. I love the addition of butterscotch chips!! This is definitely something I would like to try and serve to my girlfriends on a chilly day. I love the thought of your mom spoiling you and loving on you like that, and just time that you had with your family...those are among the simplest pleasures on earth.

I had never had bread pudding until a few months ago when we went to a local steakhouse for dinner. I took a chance and ordered the bread pudding for dessert and it was spectacular! I took the rest home and ate it for breakfast the next morning. Your bread pudding looks amazing! And the banana makes it a perfect breakfast meal! I'm glad you had a wonderful visit with your parents!